In the series opener against the Loyola Marymount Lions, Oregon’s offense managed 17 baserunners, and rode some clutch pitching to an air tight 4-3 victory. Oregon’s 17 baserunners included 7 singles AND 10 walks without a single extra base hit.

Oregon scored the first run on a Taylor Adams squeeze bunt in the 2nd inning. The Ducks would rally three more runs in the 6th inning on sloppy pitching from the Lions. Oregon scored twice on wild pitches, and a pinch hit sacrifice fly by Cameron Campbell gave them a 4 to 1 lead after 6.

Oregon’s starting pitcher Cullen Kafka allowed nine baserunners in his first four innings of work. Kafka only allowed one run and survived four stressful innings in a row thanks to seven strikeouts. After a clean 5th inning coach Horton was ready to pass it to the bullpen.

Robert Ahlstrom retired six straight batters in relief for the Ducks. Loyola Marymount swung back momentum in the 8th after reliever Brett Walker surrendered a 2 run home run to his first batter faced. More trouble for Walker left the tying run on third and go ahead run on second with two outs when reliever Nico Tellache shut the door with a strikeout. Now only leading 4 to 3, Oregon loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth, only to watch their 1, 2, and 3 hitters strikeout in consecutive fashion.

Nico Tellache had a clean ninth inning to give Oregon a gritty victory and its 4th in a row at PK park. Oregon plays two more against Loyola Marymount, and then 5 games on the road before conference play begins.

Game Story by Michael Strite :



Post-game Audio from George Horton :